" If someone is
blaming us [as]
the only country
maintaining contacts
with the Haqqanis,
there are others, too,"
Military spokesperson
Maj Gen Athar Abbas.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not take military action against the Haqqani network, despite intense US pressure over the past few days. The decision was taken at a special meeting of top commanders on Sunday and is likely to chip away at the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.

The commanders vowed to resist US demands for an offensive in North Waziristan but also discussed the possible implications of unilateral action by the US on Pakistani territory, said a military official. “We have already conveyed to the US that Pakistan cannot go beyond what it has already done,” the official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.

A public acknowledgement by the military’s chief spokesman about Pakistan having contact with the Haqqanis also appears to confirm that the security establishment has no intention to go after one of the most feared Afghan insurgent groups. “Any intelligence agency would like to maintain contact with whatever opposition group, whatever terrorist organisation … for some positive outcome,” Major General Athar Abbas told CNN in a telephone interview.

However, those contacts do not mean that the ISI supports or endorses the organisation, he added. “If someone is blaming us [as] the only country maintaining contacts with the Haqqanis, there are others, too,” Abbas said. There is a huge difference between maintaining contacts with such a group to facilitate peace and supporting it against an ally, he said. Sunday’s extra­ordinary meeting of the corps commanders, chaired by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, came after top civil and military US officials launched a series of scathing attacks against the Pakistan Army for its role in the ‘global battle against terrorism.’

Though the media wing of the army did issue a public statement about the special meeting, it opted not to say anything after a six-hour long sitting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“The situation is extraordinary and that was why the meeting was called an emergency,” said another official, who would not provide further details. Some sources say that the army decided not to issue any public statement after whispers from the US aimed at avoiding the situation getting out of control.

In a change of tone, US Centcom Chief General James N. Mattis, in a meeting with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, struck a reconciliatory note after weeks of stinging US claims.

A statement issued by the US Embassy said that General Mattis had “candid” discussions with General Kayani and General Wynne about the current challenges in the US-Pakistan relationship.

“However, Gen. Mattis also emphasised the vital role the Pakistan military plays in international security efforts to protect the Pakistani and Afghan people and the need for persistent engagement among the militaries of the US, Pakistan and other states in the region,” it added. General Wynne voiced his concern about the negative statements emanating from US, according to the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR). He also stressed the need to address the issues which have divided the two countries, which are “a result of an extremely complex situation.”

Responding to the possibility of US strikes in North Waziristan, General Abbas said that any unilateral military action would fuel anti-US sentiment in Pakistan. It “would have grave consequences … and would put the government and the military’s backs to the wall,” he said.

Abbas added that Pakistan had closed cell-phone towers in the area to prevent terrorists from communicating and coordinating their activities within Waziristan. “We closed all the mobile towers on this side of the border, but unfortunately across the border in Afghanistan mobile towers are working,” he said.

Reader Comments (80)

It is amazing to see how precious the Haqqanis are for Pakistani establishment – that they are willing to put at risk billions of dollars in aid and also total international isolation – just for the Haqqanis’ sake!!

Something else that is clear than every before is that the civilians has ABSOLUTELY no say over ANY policy in Pakistan, not just defence policy as previously suspected!!
Sad day for democracy….

Oh! “dair ayed durust ayed”, so we are accepting our involvement with others, so why bothered to deny first, it’s like saying “look teacher i was not the only one to leave the room first there were others too so you should punish them too” , who are the others? and why we are concerned with others involvement.we should have tackled the allegation very elegantly but in fact leaders have left the General alone.America will make our army harried, if our parliament doesn’t sit immediately and get rid of this filthy Taliban and Afghanistan game for ever.I am afraid we are in great trouble.If Haqqani is only a “deeni” madrasah, like other madrasahs in India and south east Asia, with a purpose of serving Islam and raising pious Muslims why it is causing the WHITE HOUSE, a fitful night’s sleep.” DAAL MAIN KUCH KALA ZAROOR HAI”, I will pray for my country to be safe from all conspiracies either being weaved across the border or inside.God bless Pakistan.At any cost we are with our brave General. and help him deciding something better for us. I am sure my comments won’t make through moderation but at least i am satisfied i spoke my own mind.

If General Kayani can leave for London right after the meeting to give lectures, its pretty obvious that things are not as bad as are being made out to be. For those who have been beating the war drums for the past 2 days, they need to stop raising. That said, tensions are running high..you never know what the Americans may do, Kayani jets of to London..anyone going to criticize him for jetting away to Europe while the nation faces serious challenges? Ofcourse not..

“Abbas added that Pakistan had closed cell-phone towers in the area to prevent terrorists from communicating and coordinating their activities within Waziristan”.

Since Haqqani says and Rehman Malik and Gilani confirm that the Haqqanis are no longer in Waziristan, why are the normal Pakistani citizens living in Waziristan inconvenienced by denying access to cell phone communications? Is this not a tacit acceptance that the Haqqanis are very much present in Pakistan – despite all claims to the contrary?

The top brass statement is unconsitutional, undemocratic and illegal. They have no right or obligastion to decide foreign affairs matters. The only forum is elected assembly, where democratically elected government has authority to decide our fate. If safe heavens of Haqani group are in Pakistan’s jurisdiction then democratically elected representatives should decide what to do with them. If that area is not part of Pakistan, then why Pakistan’s resources are used to protect them.

They obviously think the USA is bluffing — so did Saddam.
.
Your choices are clear. Stop the Haqqani from using Pakistani soil to attack NATO/Afghanistan or let NATO attack the Haqqani inside Pakistan. If those alternatives are unacceptable then you should be prepared to fight NATO.

Pakistan Army & ISI backs Haqqani Network which is well known to everyone in Pakistan. Same is the case with Groups like LeT, JeM & Other Islamic Mujahideen. Now its finally the end game & a showdown with the US. Our Army Top Brass seem to be counting on the support from China, but we must be very careful with China. China cannot be trusted since they never supported us in all our lost wars with India. Even during Kargil war, when our politicians and Generals went to china for help, they refused.
US, in the midst of recession, will not be able to handle Pakistan & by pitting china against US, we can make the best of the two worlds. I think ISI is planning to do just that (similar to USA Vs. USSR).

According to which constitution does the army have power to vote up or down any policy? In every country army follows govt’s orders rather than behaves as a political party and issues more statements than any elected leader. Pakistani army and ISI have lost all credibility yet once again after being found in bed with OBL. Until they come clean and either accept or refute the US president’s claim that OBL was hiding there, nobody in the world is going to believe them. Showing anger and refuting the facts is not going to change the world opinion. With the era of communication, even Pakistani public is not that naive anymore.

The Pakistan Army has done the sensible and right thing by calling an emergency meeting and remaining silent on the discussions.
They are the experts in their profession and know what fighting, killing and destruction is all about. They know what it is to pull a trigger or send their troops into battle. It is not an easy decision. One that could have immense and far reaching effects.
Faith in ALLMIGHTY ALLAH and standing firm and steadfast in the face of opposition. All Pakistanis must at this time support without stint and hesitation the Pakistan Army, Air Force and the Navy. Salams to all our brave and men and women.

I mean how do you weigh the balance here….how is it worth to weigh the Haqaanis at one end of the balance and the entire Pakistani nation, country s economic woes, and safety at the other end of the balance….. why are the Haqaanis considered as a group who the Pakistan doesn’t want to disown… or even of they don’t have any ties like the US says, why cant they just abandon them and ask them to go to Afghanistan…. simple queries these are but I know very huge complicated answers….. I simply don’t understand also what has it taken for our top brass to take the responsibility of getting into this turmoil… i mean what are the benefits … this is mind blowing that we want to resort on war games to make money where as Pakistan is resourceful in other natural resources and people who know how to work hard. I am just concerned for Pakistan….Recommend

US is supporting anti-Pakistan terrorism from the Afghan side of the border. That’s why they still have mobile towers operational there while Pakistanis have shut them down here. That’s how terrorists, financiers, trainers and advisers are sent to RV with TTP and BLA and kill Pakistanis by the dozens in our cities. All terror attacks in Pakistan since 2005 are linked to the Afghan border. Sure, desperate or gullible Pakistanis are recruited to carry them out, but the planning and support is coming from US-controlled Afghan territory. And no, Afghan Taliban are not involved. It’s the work of American proxies. Recommend

@Cautious: There is another parallel that can be drawn with that situation. The US attacked without proof and without solid reason.

I dont understand why they do not make the proof public. And if they dont, how can the world trust them again after Iraq.

Second thing I dont understand is, why would Pakistan want to direct militants to provoke them now and invite them to attack us. The logic that they are giving for Pakistans links with the Haqqanis is that Pakistan wants to retain control over afghanistan once they leave. If that is true why wouldn’t Pakistan just leave them alone and let them leave the region.

Third, supposing the Pakistanis are innocent, the reason they may refuse to go after Haqqanis even now may be that it will cause a backlash in terms of more suicide attacks in Pakistan and perhaps the troops really are stretched right now. If you remember two militant attacks have been launched from afghan side in last two months killing almost 60 soldiers. The whole western border is not safe as the Americans clearly do not have control over there so opening up another front will cause great losses. AND, given all the losses we have born, it is greatly angering to be accused of complicity with militancy.

well i am amazed to see that those sitting outside pakistan are taking too much toll of the recent developments.it is time for getting united..and i guess you guys did not get the point of military and political leadership that enough is enough.the point is all our forces are deployed on western border and the remaining force is on eastern borders:minimal force possible.what uncle SAM wants that we should employ our forces from eastern front to north waziristan.do you guys think its an intelligent move?thus putting our entire existance at stake.try to keep ur hatred and prejudices isolated for a while and see the broader spectrum.
plus if pakistan is trying to stand tall after a long list of follies we should support them instead of being pessimistic and always finding negative points in between the lines.
regards

Jehangir : Havent u forgotten what happened to Pakistan when u giants fought with proxies from Pakistan in Afganistan (I mean millions of refugees, sanctions etc after american pull out). The moral of the story is never come in the way of elephants fighting. You will get trampled. By the way who are the two giants planning for a fight? Or is it ur imagination
OTher friends who keep blogging that Army has no right to frame foreign/security policies of Pakistan, Pl do not waste time on this matter. Things were like this, are like this and will be like this. Turkish army top brass have all resigned in protest of Erdogan’s policies and the resignations were accepted. Recommend

Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.May Allah Almighty help Pakistan Armed Forces in this time of difficulty and ordeal and give them courage and bravery to defend Pakistan,its nation and its self-reliance and sovereignty (Aameen).

Closed mobile towers to prevent . . . who ?
Lets “hope” they close internet in PAK completely and then electricity and gas and everything so that “terrorists” dont have any “facilities” to stay alive even lolRecommend

@Arindom Pakistan don’t want to be caretaker of the world like American’s are we just need to live our own life. Till right now we have faced enough terrorism than any other country in this world after 9/11 and you are asking to take action against Haqani’s means more trouble in the country, more bomb blasts and more innocent lives will set on risk. Some time you need to appreciate those people who are in the line of making peace, fighting and war is not the solution every time. Fighting and war means you are making more enemies and this will carry on through your generations and generations.

I have seen a lot recently Turkey being mentioned about its about face change and becoming a voice in the world community. For anyone in the know, some time back, the generals were ruling and dictating Turkey. Comes in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as PM. He wrestles power of all establishments into his fold. ALL decisions are now fomulated by the elected Govt. and not by any other establishment. Yes it has taken him some time for Democracy to come full but he has done it. Now the world respects Turkey. Its is time Pakistan does the same.

It seems that long term objective is to make Afghanistan a client state of Pakistan. Haqqanis seem to be very important pawn in their game plan so that they can regain control on Afghanistan and install the government of their choice once US leaves. The long term objective could also be territorial gains.
They are so determined that they are ready to put relations with US and the flowing aid at risk. Recommend

by saying no to america we create enemies outside of pakistan,, by saying yes to america we create enemies inside of pakistan,,, so which one is more dangerous every one knows…. Taking action against a group which is not a threat to pakistan, is a big big foolish act… I am first to say no to America….

We have absolutely no idea how intelligence game works. There is a reason why ISI is the best intelligence agency in the world. Even with so little resources in comparison to CIA, Mossad, KGB and MI-6; we do top the chart.

So the people behind ISI knows what and what not to do, how and how not to go about it! Dont they?

don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Please lets fix our domestic problems 1st and than we can talk about wars and stuff … may be you guys don’t know the consequences of this clash.
We ll be send back to stone age while USA/NATO will survive …. lets get real and get rid of those terrorist who are not only a threat to our society but to this whole region.

Pakistan sincerely served the International cause( which was not because of its failings) sacrifizing fifty thousand lives and seventy billion dollors of collateral damage and still being blamed.
The US having all the military might to root out the so called terrorists has failed and has almost been defeated is now asking Pakistan to get invovled in a venture which means horrible consequences for its people who are facing daily suicide attacks and if Pakistan goes along with the US demand it will means opening a new front and abondoning the safety of its citizens.
Pakistan is not here for Sale, US & NATO should fight their own war in Afghanistan.However the writing is on the wall ” US will leave Afghanistan as the Russians did- Totally defeated

No country or any power outside Pakistan can break this country. Only we, the citizen of this country will break our beloved Pakistan through our fears, negative approaches etc. These external powers plan is spot on by getting the nation against Pakistani military forces.

In the end, the main loser would be Pakistani people, NO ONE ELSE. Recommend

It is time to unite against American and its terrorist spy agency CIA. Pakistan has done more than enough, the American now are losing war in Afghanistan and blaming Pakistan. This is their history as they lost in Vietnam War and bombed over Cambodia. I really surprised to see most of the comments in this forum who are supporting America,, to me these people are stupid who are still believe that America is our friend, They are not friend of any country in the world and even they are not good with American since they have created their enemies in IRAQ, Afghanistan and Now in Pakistan.. how can they be sincere with people of America. I would like to request you all patriots Pakistan and believing Muslims to stand unite against any American attacks, InshAllah Pakistan will be their graveyard, they even could not win the War in Afghanistan how can they win here!! Recommend

What about NATO on field forces bribing Taliban for its movement??? How about Americans finally realising they can not win this war and then approaching Taliban for reconciliation and losing Burhanuddin Rabani in due course. Just live and let people live, Times have gone when u can win the nations by grabing lands. Recommend

Pakistan sincerely served the International cause( which was not because of its failings) sacrifizing fifty thousand lives and seventy billion dollors of collateral damage and still being blamed.
The US having all the military might to root out the so called terrorists has failed and has almost been defeated is now asking Pakistan to get invovled in a venture which means horrible consequences for its people who are facing daily suicide attacks and if Pakistan goes along with the US demand it will means opening a new front and abondoning the safety of its citizens.
Pakistan is not here for Sale, US & NATO should fight their own war in Afghanistan.However the writing is on the wall ”

It looks like things have reached boiling point between Pakistan & US. Being a muslim I sincerely pray to Allah(swt) that my pakistani brothers can get out of whatever predicament they found themselves into. However I would like to ask the pakistanis to take inspiration from their next door neighbour Iran , a country that is under stringent US sanctions for the past 30 years – all the time when PAK was America’s indispensable ally . In that period they fought a 10 year long resource draining war with Iraq which was politically, economically & technologically backed by US and in that sense the iranians actually fought the US in the form of Saddam’s iraq without any backing from China or Russia. Look at where Iran is today . Although not well renowned, they have their own automobile & electronic brands and the only muslim country other then Pakistan that mastered the nuclear fuel cycle. Having a automobile brand in today’s age with competition from already other world renowned brands is not a small feat. They are actively fighting a proxy war US in iraq and are openly backing Hamas & Hezbollah ( sworn enemies of US & israel) but can the US do anything about that other then protesting. Iran is actively competing with the US for influence in he M.East. Thus you can see sanctions were actually a blessing in disguise for them and it can also be a blessing for you guys as well.

Americans have time and again proven that they are silly, but then what can you say to a country that is dying? In less then three decades USA will be gone! Beware the death throes of a super (has been) power

US is losing now. During 10 years of Afghanistan occupation, what it did for afghani people? what it did for their education, health. Instead millions of afghan and iraqi innocent people killed on the name of so called war on terror.
US attacks on Iraq on the name of chemical weapons, but after what found after attack on iraq?

If America, the terrorist, invades us, may be we are destroyed, but we cannot be defeated, but it will be a blessing for the whole world because America will not be the same America and the humanity will be preserved and saved from its poison, Insha Allah. Every patriotic Pakistani is with Army and the government if they are sincere in protecting the country.

@Arindom:
do u want to know the opinion of pakistani people ??/ pakistani civilian leadership ?? ,.. then read these comments and on other blogging and news sites. We will not TOLERATE us boots on Pakistan soil. You read it again, so that u can understand it ! If americans dare to attack they shud be dealt mercilessly .. this is the opinion of pakistani people .. and be assured .. despite ur utomost urge .. US will not dare to attack a nuclear power country .. just like it cant attack North korea . which is a thorn in its eye ! .. and if US attacks Pak .. and things enhance .. and the war theatre extends to a longer period .. then be assured .. that we Wont Go Down Alone !!! :)Recommend

Well i would say here we are fighting some one elses war we have imposed this war upon us which was a mistake committed our former leader. its time to see what we want , not some one else want. pakistan zindabad

Our troops are attacked everyday from across the border but there is no mention of that anywhere. And NATO please stop acting like a cry baby and try solving your own mess instead of blaming it on others.

Well i would say here we are fighting some one elses war we have been imposed upon us which was a mistake committed our former leader. its time to see what we want , not some one else want. pakistan zindabad

Policies are always dynamic. USA abondoned Pakistan in 1989 when USSR withdrew and USA achieved its aim. Pakistan was left high and dry to face the fall out of the Afghan crisis with millions of Afghan refugees, thousands of militants armed to teeth and instable Afghan Government. History was to repeat itself.
Probably not again. Pakistan was prepared this time. Recommend

Haqqanis bad guy for America because Haqqanis attack Americans in Afghanistan
Haqqanis do nothing to Pakistan and its security forces contrarily to the TTP
Why Pakistan should commit suicide because Americans want ?

@Jehangir
You are right. But the Nato attack will effect not only Pakistan, but the neighboring countries too. The Afghanistan war does not effect only Afghanistan but also Pakistan. Similarly the war in Pakistan will effect India, and other bordering countries like Iran and China and other gulf countries in terms of insurgency, smuggling weapons and drugs . Are you sure India and other countries are ready for the consequences of US attack on Pakistan? I do not think that countries like China will let NATO take action against Pakistan, this is not because China is Pakistan’s friend but the reason is that insurgency will rise in the region. So the conclusion is that US can never attack Pakistan because of its geographic location.

All these American stooges should rather stop it please.”we cant fight NATO,we cant do this we cant do that,they will send us to stonage” c’mon people.nothing is going to happen.please do not underestimate roue people and our country, we are no afghanistan nor iraq.its this slave mentality which will let us down.i do not say that we are superior nor do i live in some fantasy or denial.but just take this example that with the flow of harsh pakistani statements US is going towards reconciliation mode.Secondly why do you all live in denial about the wrong doings of US and its intelligence agency? do you think CIA is clean? all this mess has been created by them and now they ask us to clean it.they better go back to Texas and catch rattle snakes.

There goes one for the conspiracy theorists. Be careful what you wish for before yelling “War! War!” Unfortunately most Pakistanis are too blinded by their so-called patriotism and are ironically enough rooting for a system that has ruined them several times over already.Recommend

Y Pakistan has to do everything….
they Haqqanis are not saying anything to us , why should we then care about NATO , US and the rest ….haqqanis are harming US and NATO in Afganistan, not in US…..what is US doing in Afganistan at first place…Coz its in US’s interest, so to attack is not in Pakistans favor…not every thing is right what US thinks is right…and the best part is ,,,,either you are friend of US OR YOU ARE a potential THREAT to WHOLE WORLD….common americans…be it Afgan, Iraq, Iran, Vanezvela, cuba, korea, and many more….Recommend

@Ndeem Ahmed:
if you have an impotent, dysfunctional, corrupt and useless govt sitting on the benches of parliament then it is the obligation of the army to rise for the security of national interests…… whether their statement is constitutional or not, but they are mirroring the feelings of common man….. why should we waste our forces and resources for the security of american soldiers….

@Sao Lao: Pakistan’s calculation of bleeding India after putting Americans to the wall by using its assets in Afghanistan could be another blunder committed by it. Pakistan having armed conflict with India is totally a different wall game.

@Arindom:
The people of Pakistan are fully backing the Armed forces of Pakistan. If US wants to attach us let it try. They cant even beat the insurgents of Afghanistan how can they fight a country who got 6 lack trained army, Who possesses all kind of conventional and non conventional long and short range missiles, who have one of the most advance Air force. America should stop dreaming and try to minimize the beating they getting from Taliban in Afghanistan. They have clearly lost the battle there and now trying to make Pakistan their escape-goat.

Amaricans having a taste of their own medicine… feels nice. Commoners around here are already living in misery. Death in the name of Dangi or target killing or suiside attacks so makes little difference in case of a US/ Nato invasion

So, let us see: We will not allow our sovereignty to be violated by US, but will continue to tolerate the complete usurping of our territory by fanatics as long as they dont point their guns at us? It is a matter of time, as we have learnt in myriads cases before (TTP, TTP Swat, Lal Masjid, SSP, LeJ, LeT ….). The longer we wait and let this Emirate to exist within our borders, the more friends and allies we will continue to loose. We came close to losing China as a friend as well last month when they for the first named Pakistan directly as the place where their extremists are training. This sanctuary is NOT in Pakistan’s interest – why don’t our leaders get it? The Core Commanders need to do their job and liberate this Pakistani territory and restore state’s control there instead of provoking a super power, and using innocent people as possible canon fodder,

@Jehangir: I agree with you regarding China.It is a big question that will China risk its growing trade with America of triions of dollars.Presently China is moving with great force to become a world leader in economy. Secondly what ever we say destruction of Islamic terror is also in China’s interest.